A Spectacular New Zealand North Island Itinerary (2 Weeks)
Discover beaches, hot pools, & volcanic mountains in this scenery-packed road trip itinerary in the North Island of New Zealand.
New Zealand’s North Island is often overlooked by its popular sister: the (very photogenic, amazing, & wonderful) South Island.
The thing is, the North Island has just as much to offer as the South Island does—it just doesn’t get the same amount of hype!
I lived in the North Island for over 6 years and return regularly now that I live in the South Island.
I’ve never tired of exploring the North Island (and don’t think I ever will)—there are so many pockets of beauty to enjoy.
The North Island houses the majority of the country’s population, and therefore has the largest number of cities in New Zealand.
But it’s also home to some absolutely stunning beaches, volcanic mountains, gorgeous hikes, and natural hot springs.
Not to mention a stellar food and wine scene (and great craft breweries, too!).
After years of giving itinerary suggestions to friends and family visiting NZ, I’ve finally put together this 2-week North Island itinerary to help you experience its magic, too.
So without further ado, here is a bucket-list-worthy New Zealand North Island itinerary!
Map of New Zealand North Island 2-Week Itinerary
Where to rent a car or campervan for your North Island road trip
This itinerary works great for either car or campervan travel.
It starts and ends in Auckland, which is where you’ll find the best selection of cars and campervan rentals in the North Island.
🚐 For campervan rentals, I use Motorhome Republic to compare prices & reviews.
For higher-end vans, Maui, Britz, Mighty & Apollo are all reputable companies to check out. For budget campervans, I like Jucy, Travellers Autobarn, & Spaceships.
🚙 For car rentals, I use Discover Cars and go with whoever has the best prices and ratings!
I’ve hired cars from multiple companies, including Go Rentals, Snap, Ezi, & Avis and have nothing bad to say about any of them.
Days 1-2: Auckland
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and the arrival point for most international visitors to the country.
It’s a good place to spend a couple of days wearing off jet lag and getting your bearings.
You won’t need a car in Auckland, so I recommend waiting to pick up your car or campervan until Day 3 of this itinerary.
Day 1 in Auckland
On your first day in Auckland, explore the city by foot & ferry.
Walk along the Viaduct Harbour and take the ferry to the charming village of Devonport in the North Shore, where you’ll find some lovely spots for lunch, volcanic walks, and great views over Auckland.
In Devonport, I like walking from the ferry terminal to North Head Historic Reserve, then looping over to Mount Victoria for panoramic views of Auckland City, the Waitematā Harbour, and the inner Hauraki Gulf.
After exploring Devonport, take the ferry back to the city and head out for dinner and drinks.
I love Federal Delicatessen for their pastrami and good salads. Elliott Stables is another good spot—it’s an upscale food court and if you’re travelling with a group, there are lots of options for everyone.
Day 2 in Auckland – day trip to Waiheke Island
Spend day 2 of your itinerary on Waiheke Island, a gorgeous island filled with wineries, beaches & walks.
Before hopping on the ferry from Auckland to Waiheke, grab breakfast at one of Auckland’s great cafes—Daily Bread in Britomart is my favourite cafe in the city centre.
From Auckland, the ferry to Waiheke takes about 45 minutes, and it’s a beautiful boat trip when the weather is calm.
Once on Waiheke, you can get around via the public bus or book a hop-on, hop-off bus.
Plot out some wineries to visit and beaches to explore, and spend your day sipping wine in the sun and going for beach walks!
For wineries, I recommend Stonyridge, Batch, and/or Mudbrick. There are also some excellent craft beer places, including the Heke & Alibi.
Where to stay in Auckland
- M Social Hotel: my favourite hotel in Auckland!
- Lylo: A good option for budget travellers.
Note: I haven’t suggested a camping ground in Auckland because I think you should wait to pick up your van until Day 3 (and there aren’t any good camping spots right in the city, anyways).
Further reading: where to stay in Auckland for first-time visitors
Days 3-4: Bay of Islands
After a couple of days exploring Auckland, it’s time to hit the road!
Pick up your rental car or campervan and make your way north over the Harbour Bridge.
Today, you’re heading to the stunning Bay of Islands!
Along your drive, make sure to stop at Whangarei Falls—it’s a gorgeous waterfall and makes for a quick and worthwhile stop.
Paihia makes a good base for exploring the Bay of Islands.
Things to do in the Bay of Islands
- Visit Russell. It’s fun to take the passenger ferry from Paihia to Russell and then explore this historic village on foot (although there’s a vehicle ferry, too, if you’d prefer to drive). Walk around the town and get wood-fired pizzas at Hone’s Garden, and a drink at the iconic Duke of Marlborough Hotel.
- Take a ferry to Urupukapuka Island, where you can enjoy a 5-hour loop walk around this stunning island and enjoy panoramic ocean views.
- Visit Kerikeri, another Bay of Islands town with a lot of history and charm. Don’t miss the Stone Store, New Zealand’s oldest intact stone building, which has a great souvenir shop filled with unique gifts. Rainbow Falls is also a must-see if you visit Kerikeri.
- Have more time? Head up north to the Mahinepua Peninsula Track, where you’ll find a gorgeous headland trail offering jaw-dropping views of the sea.
Where to stay in Paihia
- Abri Apartments
- Camping: Paihia Top 10 Holiday Park
Day 5: Mangawhai
It’s time to head back down south, and your destination today—Mangawhai— is a beautiful one that gets missed from most North Island itineraries.
Mangawhai is a small coastal town near a gorgeous white sand beach at Mangawhai Heads, and it’s home to one of my favourite day walks in the North Island: the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway.
To get to Mangawhai today, I recommend taking a bit of a longer detour via the Tutukaka Coast, where you’ll find some of the most stunning beaches in the North Island.
Matapouri Bay is a must-see, and the walk from Matapouri Bay to Whale Bay is a stunner, too!
One other worthy detour today is the impressive Waipu Cave, where you can see glow worms for free.
Once you’ve made it to Mangawhai, I highly recommend doing the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway, which takes about 3 hours return.
Part of the walk goes along the beach, so if you want to do it as a loop, you’ll need to time your walk around low tide.
Alternatively, you could just hang out at the beach!
The beach at Mangawhai Heads is gorgeous (and sometimes has surf), or you could drive for 20 minutes to one of my all-time favourite beaches in New Zealand: Te Arai Beach.
After enjoying your walk or the beach, get dinner at Gringas, where you’ll find delicious Mexican food and margaritas.
Where to stay in Mangawhai
- Tui & Nikau
- Camping: Mangawhai Heads Holiday Park
Day 6: Raglan
Today offers a pretty cool contrast in scenery.
While you’ll be heading from one beach town to another, they’re quite different: after the golden sand beaches of the East Coast, it’s time to see some stunning black sand beaches along the West Coast!
Raglan is your destination today, and it’s a fantastic little bohemian town known for its beaches, surf spots, and laid-back vibes.
On your drive to Raglan, make the short detour to Bridalveil Falls, which plunges into a deep pool amidst lush ferns.
Once you’re in Raglan, head to the beach!
Go for a nice long beach walk along the black-sand Ngarunui Beach, or if you’re a surfer, you’ll definitely want to check out Manu Bay.
And if the weather is calm and there are no waves, another great activity is kayaking in the Raglan Harbour to the pancake rocks.
For dinner, head to Ulo’s Kitchen or get fish & chips at the Raglan wharf.
Where to stay in Raglan
- Bow Street Studios
- Camping: Raglan Holiday Park
Days 7 & 8: New Plymouth & Taranaki
Before leaving Raglan, get breakfast at the Shack, a lovely cafe with great food and coffee.
You’ll then make your way down to the Taranaki Region, another spot that’s often missed by visitors to New Zealand.
Taranaki is home to black sand beaches, Mount Taranaki & Egmont National Park, and the wonderful little city of New Plymouth.
On your drive from Raglan to New Plymouth, you could stop at the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves to do a glow worm tour.
And if you can time it with low tide, visit Tongaporutu (Three Sisters) Beach, an epic black sand beach with neat rock formations.
Things to do in New Plymouth & Taranaki
There are so many good things to do in New Plymouth, and it also makes a great base for exploring the wider Taranaki Region.
- Visit nearby Egmont National Park, home to Mount Taranaki, a dormant volcano. There are goblin forests and hiking trails to enjoy, and it’s a must-visit! The Pouakai Tarns track is a popular hiking trail, but my favourite trail is the loop walk that includes Dawson’s Falls & the Wilkies Pools.
- Walk or cycle the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway.
- Wander through Pukekura Park (it’s gorgeous, and free!).
- Surf or swim (or just go see) the black sand beaches at Fitzroy Beach or Back Beach.
- Climb up Paritutu Rock for incredible views.
- Sip on a craft beer at Shining Peak Brewery (their food is awesome, too!).
- Eat at Monica’s Cafe, Billow Bakery, & Social Kitchen. For coffee, head to Bleached or Ozone.
Where to stay in New Plymouth
- One Burgess Hill
- Camping: Belt Road Holiday Park
Days 9 & 10: Tongariro National Park
Your mountain scenery continues today as you make your way from New Plymouth to Tongariro National Park.
I recommend taking the slightly longer way via the Taranaki Surf Highway—even if you don’t surf, Oakura Beach & Opunake Beach make for lovely stops! You can also view the Cape Egmont Lighthouse along this route.
You’ll pass through Whanganui, where I always stop for lunch at the Japanese Kitchen.
Then make your way to the mountain town of Ohakune, the perfect base for visiting Tongariro National Park.
Things to do in Tongariro National Park
The best thing to do in Tongariro National Park is to go hiking!
The most famous hiking trail in the park is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, one of the North Island’s best day hikes. This is a serious 7-9 hour hike that takes you through an otherworldly volcanic landscape.
If you choose to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, make sure you’re prepared with hiking boots, rain gear, and plenty of food and water. You’ll also need to book a shuttle to and from the track. And just be warned that if the weather isn’t great, you might not be able to do this walk.
If the Tongariro Crossing doesn’t sound right for you, don’t worry—there are heaps of other day walks in the national park!
My favourite short day walk here is the Taranaki Falls walk, and if you’d like a longer walk, you can extend this to include Tama Lakes.
And for a short walk to see a waterfall and Lord of the Rings filming site, head to Tawhai Falls (Gollum’s Pool).
Near Ohakune, the Waitonga Falls Track is also lovely and often overlooked by visitors to the area (so it’s never very crowded!).
Where to stay in Ohakune
- The Powderhorn Chateau
- Camping: The Ohakune Top 10 Holiday Park
If you’d prefer to stay closer to the Tongariro Crossing, I recommend these spots:
- Parkview Apartments
- Camping: Mangahuia DOC Campsite
Further reading: where to stay near Tongariro National Park
Day 11: Rotorua
Get an early start this morning as there’s a lot to see and do on today’s drive!
From Tongariro National Park, you’ll drive along the shores of beautiful Lake Taupo and make your way to the geothermal town of Rotorua.
Taupo makes a great stop for lunch (go to Replete Cafe!) and a walk along the shores of Lake Taupo.
The town of Taupo itself is also worth wandering around—I always like popping into the Spacecraft gift shop, and getting a gelato from Luna.
If you want to check out a free hot pool near Taupo, head to Spa Park, where you’ll find the Otumuheke Stream hot pools next to the mighty Waikato River.
Just after you leave Taupo, visit Huka Falls, where you can take a 5-minute walk to see the rushing blue water of this powerful waterfall river.
And before reaching Rotorua, stop at one of the geothermal parks along the way. Wai-o-Tapu & Waimangu Volcanic Valley are both good options.
And to see geothermal activity for free, stop by the bubbling Mud Pool!
Things to do in Rotorua
There is so much to do in Rotorua, a hub of geothermal activity and Maori culture.
In this fast-paced itinerary, you won’t have a lot of time here (I tend to prioritise beaches and mountains!), but here are some of my favourite things to do in the area.
- Walk through the Whakarewarewa Redwoods
- Visit a hot pool (the Polynesian Spa is nice, or book accommodation with hot pools)
- Stroll through Kuirau Park to see geothermal activity for free
- Check out Okere Falls
- Get dinner along Eat Streat (I like Atticus Finch for something special!) or Sabroso for excellent Mexican food.
- Other popular activities in Rotorua include ziplining, zorbing, attending a Maori cultural performance, and going up the Skyline Gondola.
Where to stay in Rotorua
- Aura Motel
- Kings on Peace Apartments
- Camping: Tasman Holiday Park Rotorua OR the Blue Lake Top 10 Holiday Park (which is located a 10-minute drive from town)
Days 12 & 13: the Coromandel Peninsula
You’ll end your North Island itinerary in one of my favourite places in New Zealand: the Coromandel Peninsula!
The Coromandel has some of the country’s best beaches, and it’s the perfect place to both relax and explore.
Along the drive from Rotorua to the Coromandel, you’ll also have a chance to stop at a place on many visitors’ bucket lists: Hobbiton!
If you plan to visit Hobbiton, make sure to book your tickets well in advance, as it does book out.
And if you have time for a quick walk before visiting Hobbiton, plan to detour to the idyllic Putaruru Blue Springs, the source of around 70% of New Zealand’s bottled water.
After your Hobbiton tour, make your way north and stop in Paeroa for lunch at the Refinery Cafe before heading up to Hahei, your base in the Coromandel.
Things to do in the Coromandel
I recommend staying in the small beachside town of Hahei, as it’s in the perfect location for exploring the Coromandel’s most popular attractions.
Here’s what to do nearby.
- Walk, kayak, or take a boat ride to see Cathedral Cove.
- Dig your own hot pool in the sand at Hot Water Beach (make sure to time your visit within 2 hours of low tide).
- Walk up to the Te Pare Point Scenic Reserve for incredible views over Hahei and the ocean.
- Have more time? You could day-trip up to New Chums Beach, a hike-in beach cove that’s simply stunning. If you head up this way, get lunch at Luke’s Kitchen before or after you visit New Chums!
- Dining is somewhat limited in Hahei, but I always love going to the Pour House for a craft beer & woodfired pizza.
Where to stay in Hahei
- The Church Accommodation
- Camping: Hahei Holiday Resort OR the nearby Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Further reading: where to stay in the Coromandel
Day 14: Return to Auckland for departure
If you’d like to grab breakfast near Hahei on your drive back to Auckland, stop at the Colenso Country Cafe in Whenuakite.
Then it’ll be time to head back to the Auckland airport to return your car or campervan and make your way home (or to your next destination—how about the South Island?!).
Have more time for your North Island itinerary?
If you have more days to spare, you could easily adapt this road trip to add on some other great places.
For more beaches and coastal scenery, you could head up north from the Bay of Islands to explore more of Northland along the drive from Auckland to Cape Reinga.
Or add on a night or two in Mount Maunganui, where you can hang at the beach, soak in saltwater hot pools, and hike up Mount Maunganui’s trails.
If you like wine, Napier (& Hawkes Bay) is a wonderful place to visit.
And if you enjoy spending time in cities or plan to take the vehicle ferry to the South Island, I recommend visiting Wellington, New Zealand’s compact and creative capital city. (I lived in Wellington for 4 years and love this city so much!). If you plan to visit Welly, make sure to check out my one day in Wellington itinerary.
Thanks for reading my North Island road trip itinerary!
I truly hope it’s helped you plan your trip.
And if you’d like more New Zealand itineraries, check out my other itineraries below!
